Discussion

Looking for a Big, Delicious Taco in Pasadena

Hi, I'm on a taco hunt again. I'm looking for a big taco stuffed with meat, lettuce, sour cream, cheese, the works. Not looking for a small carne asada taco, but looking for more of a super taco that is not from a fast food chain (e.g., not Del Taco or Taco Bell). Any taco trucks or dives in Pasadena where I can get one? Fresh salsa? Maybe I should hit Rosarito. Thanks in advance for your help.

reality check, that's exactly what I meant. I meant a taco that has more than meat, onions and cilantro, and that is packed with a lot of ingredients, including meat, lettuce, cheese and possibly sour cream and salsa. :)

If you mean a simple hard shell Gringomex taco (I would never describe a taco as stuffed; it's just not possible to really stuff anything that small), Burrito Express on Washington between Hill & Allen is your spot.

Burrito Express is where I went. Thank you Jack Flash and happybaker. I got two tacos for about $3.25. The hard shell one with beef was better than the carne asada soft taco. Hit the spot. I will continue my search, so I appreciate any and all suggestions. :)

I tried the had-shell taco with beef at Burrito Express and it wasn't bad. The hot sauce was very good (I've had it with their burritos). You were probably happy they had sour cream available, too. On the whole I prefer Rick's -- maybe it's just habit, but I prefer ground beef to shredded beef in that style of taco. If the shredded beef had been excellent, that might have turned it around for me, but it was merely good.

I, too, prefer ground beef hard tacos. Saying that, I stopped at Pepe's on Rosemead (a block north of Las Tunas) last night and ordered (my standard) taquitos with guac and a hard taco, regular (no guac). The taquitos are one of my most favorite things there - especially with a good dousing of either of their three hot sauces (green, habanero, red). The taco, while not big, is in a homemade shell with shredded beef, cheese and tomatoes (cannot remember if it had lettuce on it). It is very good - their shredded beef is nicely seasoned and the hot sauces take it to the next level. I also got a bean and cheese burrito to go (with ranchera sauce on the side) and since I had never ordered one of them before, when I got home I had to dip my finger into the beans to see how they were. Well, they were fabulous! Creamy deliciousness! Of course, I forgot to bring it to work with me for lunch, so now I will be sitting here dreaming about it all day! I was looking at the order screen while waiting and noticed that almost every order had carne asada burritos on it. I have never had it, but would guess it is good.

Your stated preference for sour cream and cheese suggests you're looking for "gringo-style" tacos. If so, you might like the tacos at Rick's Drive-In at Walnut and El Molino. I don't remember if they have sour cream available (it doesn't come standard). Also the tacos aren't particularly large. But they are my favorite gringo tacos in Pasadena. In Arcadia, Taco Lita and Taco Treat also have good gringo tacos.

Agree on all 3 counts! Be sure to get some of the delicious hot sauce at Rick's. I do not think they have sour cream, but then again, I have never asked. Taco Lita and Taco Treat are my faves, too, with TT edging out TL because of their hot sauce! Happy munching!

I was actually touting the sauce from Taco Treat. I drink it! ;-) But TL's sauce is good, too. Also at Taco Treat they have specials, I think Tues and Sundays, but think it is only for some of their burritos and tostadas. I love their bean and cheese burrito (deep fried). Their taquitos are also very good with a big glob of quac! YUM!

We made a late night stop at Rick's after the NBA Playoffs. It stays open until midnight, apparently. Although the food hit the spot at the time, I feel like the hard shell taco I had at Burrito Express was tastier. The Burrito Express taco has shredded beef, while the Rick's taco had ground beef. Also, I liked the salsa and the cheese at Burrito Express better.